Small car to "Get Back in Love With"

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by randel

Ahhhh shit - what is the problem that requires full replacement?

Just ducking out to look at a red 2021 Focus in a yard

That should be the SA, which had the 1.5 3-cylinder engine, I thought they were sorted.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

That should be the SA, which had the 1.5 3-cylinder engine, I thought they were sorted.

There's also three variations of that engine in circulation across a couple years, two of the variations have a wet belt setup driving the oil pump and one is geared.

[kevino]

There’s 118 pages of posts on Sa focus in Whirlpool Automotive Aus from owners
No mention of engine issues
Some mention of gearbox irritations

[Citroënbender]

The young lady two doors up, has a Mazda 2. Probably similar brief to the OP - small, auto, AC. Drives to office when not teleworking, takes the dog to off-leash parks, a little shopping and the odd Friday or Saturday night out. She never looks unhappy driving it, and it’s never made strange noises as it comes up the street.

[danzvtil]

Yaris, Mazda 2 or Swift are top pics for trouble free driving.
Yaris has Toyota tax but will have resale irrespective of klm travelled.
The Mazda is well built but a more engaging drive than the Toyota.
Swift I have a soft spot for, my daughters one is a 2016 with the 4 speed auto, averages 6.5l/100 around town with her on/off treatment of the accelerator. Later ones come with a CVT that don’t drive like it and don’t appear to have any issues either. They are quite a special little car.
Edit:the NEW swift just launched, its back in the value game now that it’s mild hybrid Japanese for chinese money.

[Franco Cozzo]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

Edit:the NEW swift just launched, its back in the value game now that it’s mild hybrid Japanese for chinese money.

Impressive development, really puts the supermini back on the score board, curious to see how it goes.

[Big_Daz]

Originally Posted by kevino

You could add to that the Mazda cx3
Small an suv but basically just a hatch

Sorry, I got myself confused.. cx-3 is what mum has, not the cx-30… she doesn’t drive all that hard but with her keeping it serviced it’s not had a thing go wrong even with all the km on it. Well worth a look. You can get a 2023/24 demo for not much more than ops budget as well.


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[kevino]

Originally Posted by danzvtil

Yaris, Mazda 2 or Swift are top pics for trouble free driving.
Yaris has Toyota tax but will have resale irrespective of klm travelled.
The Mazda is well built but a more engaging drive than the Toyota.
Swift I have a soft spot for, my daughters one is a 2016 with the 4 speed auto, averages 6.5l/100 around town with her on/off treatment of the accelerator. Later ones come with a CVT that don’t drive like it and don’t appear to have any issues either. They are quite a special little car.
Edit:the NEW swift just launched, its back in the value game now that it’s mild hybrid Japanese for chinese money.

Yeah I was going to talk about new hybrid Swift but op mentioned cvt.
$26490 drive away 4.0 prob 4.5 litres /100 km real world nanny safety stuff is all mild and non irritating compared to Korean and Chinese cars.
Adapative cruise control aeb etc etc five year warranty.
Impressive!
Most reviews rate it better than new l Mg 3 - the mg 3 is more powerful and quicker but the Swift is only 950 kg and with mild hybrid achieves better economy than mg3 hybrid… which is also dearer


So sorted
Focus SA
Or
New Suzuki Swift mild hybrid
Or
Cb3

[kevino]

Originally Posted by Franco Cozzo

Impressive development, really puts the supermini back on the score board, curious to see how it goes.

Gee
I am in agreement.

[Sprintey]

Mazda 2
Mazda 3
Mazda CX3
Yaris hybrid
Suzuki Swift - some still are non CVT?
Hyundai I30

I like the Yarii, the build quality although it's a simple layout. Had an Echo from new and it was so well built, fun to punt in the manual around town. CVT in them? Hybrid setup has a variant of it.

Swift gets a good rep, it's the true "mini" of today.

Mazda 3 - a big step up, just looking inside the new model takes you into prestige kind of design, loved the wide dash. Fit and finish looked really, really good. There's engine choices all with the torque converter. I guess it has the 'feel good' bit down in the segment.

Would love to add the Impreza as well, but it's CVT. You do get the grip of AWD and this drivetrain is loved by the snow set.


If it's for a son, well they get into the trades and get a Ranger or old Patrol... If it's for a daughter - does she want to sit higher in traffic? The ladies I know prefer the SUV ride height.

**Bonus 'small car' suggestion from left-field: A VS Commodore with Ecotec. (Safety will not be on par).

[DFB FGXR6]

Originally Posted by Sprintey

Mazda 2

Mazda 3 - a big step up, just looking inside the new model takes you into prestige kind of design, loved the wide dash. Fit and finish looked really, really good. There's engine choices all with the torque converter. I guess it has the 'feel good' bit down in the segment.

My sister had a current generation Mazda 3 Evolve, so basically the mid-spec 2.0 hatch. What I found astonishing was the high level of fit, finish and material quality for the price. In fact, it puts every other mainstream brand to shame, easily exceeding any Ford product sold here.

[prydey]

Originally Posted by DFB FGXR6

My sister had a current generation Mazda 3 Evolve, so basically the mid-spec 2.0 hatch. What I found astonishing was the high level of fit, finish and material quality for the price. In fact, it puts every other mainstream brand to shame, easily exceeding any Ford product sold here.

We looked at cx5 when buying the escape. Bought the escape.

[FTE217]

CX5 no towing vehicle what you were looking for And you wanted a Ford.
My wife has the CX5 and it’s faultless since 2018 new.
Brilliant shopping trolley and my sister has gone through 2 new 626’s now a top spec 3.
Never a problem - troubles ford has nothing for them to buy mid to small hatch sedan.


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[prydey]

Originally Posted by FTE217

CX5 no towing vehicle what you were looking for And you wanted a Ford.

Towing? Escape, not Everest.

I can appreciate others like them. Not saying they are rubbish. Yes, I wanted a ford but it was the wife's choice. She liked the escape.

I guess we're lucky that there is a lot of choice. Everyone can find something to suit them.

[jstanovic]

My sister bought a Mazda 2 new in 2013/14, still has it with 200,000km+. No major issues at all, nothing has come loose or fallen off. Clutch has a bloody weird feel to it since new though.

[FTE217]

Originally Posted by prydey

Towing? Escape, not Everest.

I can appreciate others like them. Not saying they are rubbish. Yes, I wanted a ford but it was the wife's choice. She liked the escape.

I guess we're lucky that there is a lot of choice. Everyone can find something to suit them.

Ah yes mirror sorry.
Didn’t read they are rubbish I took it they you stick by ford more than anything that’s all.
Late model Escapes look nice actually I just don’t much trust in the product when comparing the choices.


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[Swordie]

BEST CITY CARS

https://autoexpert.com.au/best-city-cars

The cars mentioned in this article are mainly over $25K new. It helps give more information on some of the cars already discussed in this thread.

[In Focus]

https://www.carsales.com.au/cars/?q=...))&sort=~Price